RIVER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Thursday, October 9, 2003
Regular Meeting
Middle School Library
7:30 p.m.

Board Members present: Anderson, Nelson, Taylor, Pitts, Peach, Roske, Pronold, Limmex (arrived 7:39 p.m.), Megan Sipes (student representative)
Board Members absent: Caraway
Administrators present: Benson, Hoffman, Mahoney, Richardson, Kaukl, Palm-Leis, Briehl
Others: Ron Troxel, David Reichenberger, Karen Steindorf, Paula Wedige (Administrative Assistant), David Giffey (Home News)

Anderson opened the meeting.  He noted that the meeting had been properly noticed and notice had been provided to the appropriate media and each School Board Member.  Pitts moved to proceed with the legal meeting.  Roske seconded.  Motion carried.

Board Training Opportunities
Nelson noted that WASB is holding a school law seminar in Madison on October 17.  There is also a November 8 seminar in Wausau regarding legislative issues.

Student Council Report
Megan Sipes provided an update of student council activities including continued plans for a Family Fall Festival at Peck’s and attendance at an October 14 leadership conference in Lancaster.

Referendum Timeline (District Deficit Reduction Plan)
Benson outlined upcoming meetings/events leading up to the February 2004 referendum—October 13 Referendum Fact Committee meeting; October 16 special Board meeting to hear oral presentations from teacher departments regarding the impacts of potential budget cuts; and November 6 special Board meeting for Board action on budget cuts in the event the February 2004 referendum fails.  Benson asked the Board to thoroughly review the written reports from the departments prior to hearing their oral presentations on October 16.  He also encouraged their attendance at the October 13 Referendum Fact Committee meeting.

Benson complimented the Board on its open and public discussion related to the deficit and plan of action so voters are able to make an informed decision at the February 2004 referendum vote.  He noted that the current list of programs and services to be cut in the event the referendum fails shows roughly the amount needed and that there are no “extra” dollars on the list.

Ron Troxel commented that if the referendum fails and the list of programs and services is cut, the community and businesses would be affected as well as the schools.  He predicted that people would move out of the community and that the ramifications of a lesser quality school district, if programs and services are cut, would be broad and deep.

District Goals
Benson noted that the district’s main focus is on a budget deficit solution.  Other goals are: federal compliance to No Child Left Behind laws; compliance with state PI34 teacher licensing; evaluation and improvement of our curriculum and instructional practices; and implementation of our new district technology plan to include an increase in our integration of technology in daily lessons.  Future Board meetings will include informational updates related to ongoing, goal-driven initiatives at the building and districtwide levels and will replace the process of written goals and goals evaluation/update reports as published and provided to the Board in the past.

Consent Agenda:  Checks, Invoices, Receipts - September 2003; Open Session Meeting Minutes – September 11, 2003
Limmex moved to approve the consent agenda items as submitted.  Pitts seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Teacher Hirings
Limmex moved to hire Lisa Fishler as the School Psychologist.  Roske seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Second Reading of New and Revised Board Policies
Roske moved to approve the second reading of Policy #433-Exhibit – Junior/Senior Privilege Request Form to increase the number of open campus (lunch hour) days from five to ten.  Taylor seconded.  Motion carried.

Pitts moved to approve the second reading of Policy #470.1 – Athletic User Fees to align with the Athletic Handbook regarding the return of user fees if an athlete is dropped from a team or quits a team and makes a request for a refund no later than the second week of participation or before the first competition, whichever is later.  Roske seconded.  Motion carried.

Taylor moved to approve the second reading of Policy #832 – Tobacco Possession and Use on School Premises to prohibit not only the use of but also the possession of tobacco products by students.  Roske seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Budget Committee Recommendations
Mahoney outlined ongoing problems at the middle school with recurring lightning strikes and subsequent damage.  The Committee recommended to the Board the waiver of the bid process and the expenditure of $16,689 for transient voltage surge suppression equipment for the middle school.  Pitts moved to waive the bid process and approve the purchase of transient voltage surge suppression equipment for the middle school.  Limmex seconded.  Motion carried.  Polled vote was 8-0 in the affirmative with 1 absent.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Resolution to Appoint Human Growth and Development Advisory Committee for 2003-05
School nurse Jeanne Patenaude recommends the two-year reappointment of members of the Human Growth and Development Committee with Kim Cates and Howard Murphy being removed from the committee and Blair Anderson being added.  Taylor moved to adopt the Resolution to Appoint the Human Growth and Development Advisory Committee as recommended.  Pitts seconded.  Polled vote was 8-0 in the affirmative with 1 absent.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Resolution Accepting Gifts
Pronold moved to adopt the Resolution Accepting Gifts of a donation of a car to the technology department  valued at $150 from Kevin and Shari Graffunder.  Roske seconded.  Polled vote was 8-0 in the affirmative with 1 absent.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Special Meeting Date - Thursday, October 16, 2003
Limmex moved to set a special meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2003, at 7:30 p.m. in the Middle School Library.  Taylor seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Special Meeting Date – Thursday, November 6, 2003
Roske moved to set a special meeting on Thursday, November 6, 2003, at 7:30 p.m. in the old high school gymnasium.  Taylor seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action to Adjourn to Closed Session Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85 (1)(c) for a Level IV Grievance Conference; 19.85 and 111.70 for 2003-05 RVEST Collective Bargaining Update and 2003-05 RVEA Collective Bargaining Update; 19.85 (1)(b), (c), and (f) to discuss Deficit Reduction Strategies Related to Potential Layoffs
Taylor moved to adjourn to closed session at 8:32 p.m. pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85 (1)(c) for a Level IV Grievance Conference; 19.85 and 111.70 for 2003-05 RVEST Collective Bargaining Update and 2003-05 RVEA Collective Bargaining Update; and 19.85 (1)(b), (c), and (f) to discuss Deficit Reduction Strategies Related to Potential Layoffs.  Roske seconded.  Polled vote was 8-0 in the affirmative with 1 absent.  Motion carried.

Submitted by Paula Wedige For Deborah Nelson, School District Clerk

08/22/06 pw